Apparatus for generating power from waves, tides, or the like.



No. 832,482. PATENTED OCT. 2, 19-06. J. HUTGHINGS.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING POWER FROM WAVES, TIDES, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 4, 1905. v

mZwd-Lsw/ Z72 06%?07 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HUTCHINGS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING POWER FROM WAVES, TIDES, OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2,1906.

Application filed December ,4, 1905. Serial No. 290.240.

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN HUTGHINGS, engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 210 Moorgate Station Chambers, Moorfields, in the city of London, England, have invented certaln new and useful improvements in means and apparatus em ployed in generating motive power from waves, tides, or the like movements of water, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means and apparatus employed in generating motivepower from waves, tides, or other movements of bodies of water-such as the sea, inland waters, river estuaries, tidal rivers, and lakes acting on a floating buoy or floating buoys held to the bottom of the sea or in equivalent situation by a chain and anchoring-weight or by equivalent means of fixture, such as a line from the sea-shore or the like.

Figure 1 is a section taken on the line A B of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an external side view showing the form of the buoy.

0 indicates the anchoring-weight resting on or in the sea-bottom. d is the connectingchain between it and the floating structure.

e is the buoy; f, the self-adjusting counterbalance-weight to take up slack of the chain d.

g is a sprocket or pulley wheel pendent from the structure.

his a crank-pin; i, a crank-rod; j, the piston-rod; k, the pumping or compression piston; Z, the pumping or compression cylinder; 'm, the intake-pipes controlled by valves.

n represents conducting-pipes.

0 is the top swing-pedestal forming the cylinder and pendent pulley-wheel frame, to which is connected the pendent framing 3.

p represents gimbal-bearings.

q 9" indicate giinb al-rings.

s is the pedestal platform framing provided with supports or legs 2 2.

1 1 are trunnions forming parts of the gimbal-bearings between the rings and supported in the bearings p.

When the buoy e and its other associated parts have been built, fixed in working order, and launched, the generation of power is effected by fixing the lower end of the chain d onto the anchor-weight c by means of a universal-joint coupling at 4. Thence the chain d is passed into workin position on the pulley-wheel g. On the en thus passed over the wheel 9 is fixed the pressure-b alancing weight f. The buoy 6 has air-tight joints to insure buoyancy.

The wheel 9 and its subtended bearing holdin frames 3 are securely fixed and hung to the ottom plate of the gimbal-ring q and by means of the wide scope of movement of such bearings are thereby enabled to rock or swing in any direction freely, while the buoy 6 may be tilted.

The cylinder cradle frames 0 and the cylin' ders Z are securely fixed to-the top plate .of the gimbal-ring q, and by means of the .downward pull of the weightf and the wheel g and the widescope of movement in the gimbal bearings the cylinder Zis continuously held in a more or less vertical working position, while the buoy 6 may be tilted or tossed to the highest angles ever reached.

The chain at is fixed to and works over the toothed periphery of the sprocket-wheel g, which may be caused to revolve whole or parts of cycles, according to the height of the generating-waves, or to oscillate to and fro around its axle bearing 5 when actuated through the chain d bymeans of up or down movements of the buoy e.

When the buoy 'e is lifted or lowered by waves or tides, the wheel g, through the chain (1, is forced to revolve, while the weight f, being attached to the end of the chain, is in consequence lifted or lowered, accommodating itself automatically through the chain (1, running over the wheel g, to any rising or falling motion, responding inversely to the generating movements of the buoy 6. During any such movement of the buoy e and chain d the wheel 9 forces the crank-rod t, the cross-head or slide-block 6, the piston-rod j, and in turn the double-acting piston is to and fro reciprocally within the cylinder Z, each to-and-fro movement compressing air or pumping water through the cylinder Z and its valves, thence into and through the conducting-pipes n to a suitable receiver to be conserved or stored and used as required.

The gimbal-rings g r and their bearings 10 p and trunnions enable the buoy e to move freely in all directions, while the pendent frame 3, the wheel 9', the cradle-frame 0, and the cylinder Z may swing and rock in such po, sitions as they may be held into while working by the weight f, chain (1, and anchorweight 0.

The floating buoy e is made with air-tight joints, thus confining the air and producing buoyancy.

This power-generator may be anchored in water of great depth or worked along the shallow shore of seas or other waters.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an oscillatory buoyant body having a centrally-arrangpd opening extending entirely therethroug structure arranged upon the top of said body and extending over the opening, a mooring supported from said structure, an air-cylinder and piston mounted on said superstructure, means interposed in the line of mooring to compensate for the rise and fall of the tide and to exert an operative and substantial pressure on the air in the cylinder, and a connection between the piston and said means.

2. An apparatus of the character dea super-- a flexible member traveling over said pulley,

a mooring carried by one end of said member,

a weight carried by the other'end of said member and adapted to exert an operative and substantial pressure on the air in the aircylinder beside taking up the slack of said flexible member, and an operative connection between said iston and said pulley for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J OIIN HUTCHINGS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, JOHN OoonE HARE. 

